Solutions to End Homelessness Program (STEHP) - Federal and State Funds

The STEHP program provides assistance for individuals and families to remain in or obtain permanent housing, and assistance with supportive services during their experience of homelessness, the eviction process and housing stabilization. STEHP supports comprehensive programs that are designed to help maintain and improve the quality of emergency and transitional shelters, and drop-in centers for homeless individuals and families. STEHP assists organizations to meet the costs of operating programs that provide comprehensive supportive services aimed at housing stabilization, rapid re-housing services (obtaining a permanent living situation) and eviction prevention assistance to individuals and families.

Federal funds allocated from the Department of Housing and Urban Development combined with New York State homeless assistance funds comprise STEHP funding.

In July 2014, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was released which awarded approximately $15.3 million annually to not-for-profits, units of local government and local social service districts. Contracts began October 1, 2014 and will end on September 30, 2019. Seventy-two (72) contracts resulted from the RFP.

New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) – State, MRT and TANF Funds

NYSSHP consolidated the Single Room Occupancy Support Services Program (SRO) and the Supported Housing for Families and Young Adults (SHFYA) into one unified program. NYSSHP is designed to provide supportive services to eligible residents of supported housing in order to assist them in achieving as self-sufficient a life as possible. Eligible populations include single adults, young adults (18-25) and families that are in need of supportive services. The service provision for all populations should be designed to assist residents in remaining stably housed so that they do not enter or re-enter the homeless services system. The SFY 2016 appropriation was approximately $29M, providing support to 163 contracts.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) - Federal Funds

The purpose of the HOPWA program is to provide states and localities with the resources and incentives to devise long-term comprehensive strategies for meeting the housing and support services needs of low-income persons with AIDS and HIV-related diseases. A broad range of housing-related activities may be funded under HOPWA, including, but not limited to: project or tenant based rental assistance; supportive services; short-term rent or mortgage payments to prevent homelessness; and technical assistance in establishing/operating a community residence.

Through 11 contracts, services are provided in 35 counties throughout New York State. The FFY 201 5 allocation is $ 2.43M.

Next Request for Proposals is anticipated to be released May, 2018.

Operational Support for AIDS Housing (OSAH) State Funds

The OSAH program provides operating funding to HHAP projects that house homeless singles and families living with HIV/AIDS. The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2015 allocation is $982,000. OSAH funds currently support the operations of 9 HHAP projects. Funds are utilized for costs associated with personnel, supplies, utilities, consultants, travel, equipment, contractual obligations, maintenance needs and rental subsidies. OSAH funded programs also allow for recreational activities, tutoring for school aged children, chemical abuse counseling and nutritional services.

Next Request for Proposals is anticipated to be released in May of 2018.

Emergency Needs for the Homeless Program (ENHP) - TANF Funds

The purpose of the ENHP is to support programs that meet the emergency needs of homeless individuals and families and those at risk of becoming homeless. Funds are used to augment existing programs that provide services to these individuals and families to assist them toward stabilizing their lives and moving toward self-sufficiency.

Individuals and families served through ENHP are those at risk of becoming homeless or who are homeless and are eligible for benefits under the State Plan for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and whose incomes do not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit corporations and charitable organizations in social services districts with a population in excess of 2,000,000.

The ENHP Program currently has three (3) contracts that support crisis intervention, eviction prevention, emergency feeding and summer youth services throughout New York City.